How To Enable Or Disable Network Discovery In Windows 7

18 December, 2011

Network Discovery option allows you to configure your computer so that you can make your computer visible or invisible in network. When Network Discovery option is turned ON in your PC, other users in your network can find your computer. To configure this option, proceed with the following steps:




1. Click Start –> Control Panel
2. Make sure the “View by:” is set to “Large icons” or “Small icons”. Click on “Network and Sharing Center”. option.

3. In the left pane of the Network and Sharing Center”, “Change advanced sharing settings”. option.

4. Expand “Home or Work” section by clicking on the drop down arrow as shown in the screen shot below.

5. Check the radio button “ Turn on network discovery”.

6. Click “Save Changes” button.
That’s it. Your PC will now be visible in Network.
At any point of time, if you wish to hide your PC in network, check the option”Turn off network discovery” and click “Save changes” button.

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How to Shrink System partition in Windows 7

14 December, 2011

The system partition (meaning the partition on which the operating system is installed on) is a place that just begs for more space as time goes by. In most cases, proper design before the installation of the operating system will prevent you from having to extend that system partition (read more about it in article on how to extend the system partition in Windows 7)

Previous Microsoft operating systems had some internal mechanism to shrink partitions. But there were limitations on these operations. Some 3rd-party applications could (and still can) be used to extend partitions, but in this article, like the one mentioned above, we want to focus on internal tools.

Windows 7 allows for an easy, out-of-the-box, method of shrinking partitions (any partition, including the system partition) and making them smaller.

2 Ways to Complete this task

1. Shrink with GUI interface:

1. Log on as an Administrator.

2. Go to Control Panel > System and Maintenance > Administrative Tools > Computer Management. You can also open the Computer Management application by using the Computer context menu. Select Computer Management.

In fact, you can go directly to the Disk Management MMC snap-in by typing diskmgmt.msc in the Start's search box or on the Run command.

If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

3. Expand the Storage section, and in it go to the Disk Management console.

4. Select the disk you want to shrink, for example Drive C.

5. Right-click the disk and select Shrink Volume.

6. Process will take a few moments, while the system is looking at the partition structure. Note that it would be best to make sure that that partition was properly defragmented prior to trying to shrink it.

7. When calculation is done, the UI will display the largest amount of space that can be trimmed from the selected partition. Please note, again, that this size is related to the actual amount of free space on that partition (i.e. you cannot shrink more that there is free space), and the amount of file fragmentation on that partition.

Enter the amount in MB and click on the Shrink button.

8. The process will finish quite quickly, and a reboot is NOT required. You can notice the new partition size. Also note that you now have a remaining unused part on the hard drive.

 

Related:

Installation of Windows 7 

Windows Xp Mode in Windows 7 

Common problems in Windows  

USB Password Locker in winows 7

2. Shrink with Command line interface: 

Extending a partition or volume can be done via the CLI, or command line interface. In order to do that perform the following steps:
1. Click Start and type CMD, then press Enter. It is best to run the Command Prompt as an Administrator. To do so, right-click CMD and select "Run as Administrator".
BTW, you can also hover over the CMD line and press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER to invoke the "Run as Administrator" shortcut.
2. In the command prompt type

Diskpart

3. Select the right disk drive and partition to work on. Typically, in Windows 7, this should be disk 0 and partition 2, but please make sure you do select the right disk and partition before continuing. You can do so by performing a LIST operation to view your existing disks and partitions BEFORE attempting to expand the wrong partition.

List disk
Select disk 0
List partition
Select partition 2

4. When the right disk and partitions were selected, run the SHRINK command which reduces the size of the volume with focus by the specified amount, and makes free disk space available from unused space at the end of the volume.
SHRINK has some parameters we need to talk about:
DESIRED=<N> - Specifies the desired amount of space in megabytes (MB) to reduce the size of the volume by. If a desired amount is not specified, the volume will be reduced by the maximum amount of free space available on the volume.
MINIMUM=<N> - Specifies the minimum amount of space in MB to reduce the size of the volume by.
QUERYMAX - Returns the maximum number of bytes that the volume can be reduced by (the free space available on the volume). This value may change if applications are currently accessing the volume.
If a MINIMUM amount is not specified, the volume will be reduced by either the DESIRED amount (if specified), or by the maximum amount of free space available on the volume. If a MINIMUM amount is specified but not enough free space is available, the command will fail. This command works on basic volumes, and on simple or spanned dynamic volumes. You can reduce the size of a volume only if it is formatted using the NTFS file system or if it does not have a file system.

For example:

Shrink QUERYMAX

The above command will return the maximum number of bytes that the volume can be reduced.

shrink DESIRED=500 MINIMUM=250

Will shrink the partition by 500 MB, if possible, and if it cannot shrink by 500 MB, it will at least attempt to shrink it by 250 MB.

shrink DESIRED=10000

Will shrink the partition by 10000 MB.



5. You may check the new partition size by running the list command, again.

List partition

6. You must now exit DISKPART by using the Exit command.

Exit

BTW, as a general tip and so that you know, you can use the above procedures also on Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

Related:

Drive Encryption in windows 7
Network topology
Common Installation Errors in Windows 7

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How to password lock USB with Bitlocker

13 December, 2011

How it works:
 
Basically, BitLocker To Go allows you to encrypt a USB drive and restrict access with a password. Without the password, the USB drive is worthless. When you connect the USB drive to a Windows 7 computer, you are prompted for the password and upon entering it you can read and write to the drive as you normally would.

During the encryption process, Windows 7 installs a special reader on the USB drive. When you connect the USB drive to a computer running XP or Vista, the BitLocker To Go Reader takes control, prompts for the password, and then basically makes the USB drive a read-only device.

BitLocker To Go can be used by both home and business users.

Settitng up a USB Drive:

Setting up BitLocker To Go on a USB drive is a simple procedure. Once you insert a USB drive, right-click on it and select the Turn on BitLocker command from the menu, as shown in below

When you right- click on na USB drive in windows 7, you can see tthe turn on Bitlocker command

As soon as you do, BitLocker To Go will begin initializing your USB drive, as shown in below. The process is nondestructive, so you don’t have to worry about any data that is already on the drive.

When Bitlocker TO GO initiallize your USB Drive , You dont have to worry about any data that is already on the drive

Once the initialization process is complete, BitLocker To Go will prompt you to set up a password that you will use to unlock the drive, as shown in below. If you have a smart card, you can use its PIN to unlock the drive.

You can use a password or a smart card to unlock a Bitlocker To GO protected drive
After you set up a password or use a smart card, BitLocker To Go will prompt you to store a recovery key, as shown in below. You can use the recovery key to unlock your drive in the event that you forget the password or lose your smart card.

Ensure that you don't lock yourself out of your drive, Bitlocker To GO will create a recovery key.

When you create the password and save your recovery key, you’ll be prompted to begin the encryption process, as shown in below

You will be prompted to begin the encryption process once you save the recovery key.
During the encryption process, you’ll see a standard progress monitor that will keep you apprised of the operation, as shown in below. The amount of time that it will take to complete the process will depend on how large the drive is. As you can see, there is a Pause button that will allow you to temporarily halt the process should you need to perform another task.

A Progress monitor will keep you apprised of the encryption process
Of course, once the encryption is complete, BitLocker To Go displays a confirmation dialog box and changes the icon associated with the encrypted drive, as shown in below

When the encryption is complete, you’ll notice that the drive icon shows a lock on the drive.

Using a BitLocker To Go encrypted drive in Windows 7

When you later insert the BitLocker To Go encrypted drive in the Windows 7 system, you will immediately be prompted to enter the password, as shown in below. If you wish, you can select the Show Password Characters as I Type Them check box, so that you can see the letters; otherwise, you’ll see asterisks. After you type the password, you can select the Automatically Unlock on This Computer from Now On check box to store the password in Windows 7’s password cache.

When you insert the BitLocker To Go encrypted drive in Windows 7 system, you will immediately be prompted for a password.

Once you click Unlock, you’ll see an AutoPlay dialog box that prompts you to view the files or use ReadyBoost, as shown in below. When you click the Open Folder to View Files button, you will be able to access the drive and its contents as you normally would.

When the AutoPlay dialog box appears, click the Open Folder to View Files button.

Using a BitLocker To Go encrypted drive in Windows XP/Vista

When you insert the BitLocker To Go encrypted drive in a Windows XP or Vista system, you will see an AutoPlay dialog box that prompts you to install the BitLocker To Go Reader, as shown in below . When you click this button, it will take just a moment to install and run the Reader.

When you insert the BitLocker To Go encrypted drive in a Windows XP or Vista system, you will be prompted to install the BitLocker To Go Reader.

You’ll then see the BitLocker To Go Reader dialog box, which will prompt you to enter your password, as shown in below. Notice that the Automatically Unlock on This Computer from Now On check box is missing from this dialog box. However, the Show Password Characters check box is still available.

BitLocker To Go Reader will prompt you to enter your password.

After you type the password and click the Unlock button, you’ll see the BitLocker To Go Reader window, which essentially looks like Windows Explorer, as shown in below. However, it doesn’t work like Windows Explorer.

The BitLocker To Go Reader window allows you to access files on an encrypted drive on a Windows XP or Vista system.

If you attempt to open any file by double-clicking it in the BitLocker To Go Reader window, you’ll immediately be prompted to copy the file to the desktop, as shown in below  — you won’t be able to open the file on the USB drive.

You cannot open files on an encrypted drive from the BitLocker To Go Reader.

If you attempt to copy a file from the computer to the BitLocker To Go Reader window, you’ll immediately see the error message shown in below.

You cannot copy files to an encrypted drive from the BitLocker To Go Reader.

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What is IPV6

11 December, 2011

Internet Protocol Version (IPv6) is a successor of (IPv4), IPv6 is a newer version of IPv4, The reason for creating IPv6 is to solve problems of IPv4, IPv6 standards has pretty much more advantages than the previous IPv4 standards It is also known as the internet Next generation Protocol.

While IPv4 allows 32 bits for an Internet Protocol address, and supports 2³² (4,294,967,296) addresses, IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses, so the new Ipv6 address space supports 2¹²⁸(approximately 340 undecillion or 3.4×10³⁸) addresses, That’s really huge, I mean you can assign IPv6 Ip address to every device and have Ip address for every square feet on the earth. As per Experts their opinion is that ipv6 will never get exhausted.

IPv6 Features

• Aggregation-based address hierarchy
• Larger Address Space
• 64 bits field alignment
• Simpler basic header
• No fragmentation by routers
• Security
• IP renumbering part of the protocol
• Auto configuration
• Number of addresses
• Mobility
• Seamless transition
• Don’t require a day X for switching to IPv6, Simple configuration
• There is a good Efficiency in routers for low and very high bandwidth (100G/bytes) and more.

IPv6 Addressing

• Address size moved from 32-BIT (IPv4) To 128-BIT (IPv6)
• Provides 340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,770,000,000  (340 Unidcilion, 282 dicilion, 366 Non-Nilion, 920 Octilion, 938 Septilion….. It goes on)
• To make address more manageable, divided into 8 Groups of 4 HEX Characters Each.

IPv6 Address

2001:0050:0000:0000:0000:0AB4:1E2B:98AA

Rule 1  :   Eliminate 6 Groups of Consecutive zeroes

  2001:0050::0AB4:1E2B:98AA

Only once :: (in an IP address)

Rule 2   :   Eliminate leading zeros

2001:50::AB4:1E2B:98AA

Loopback for IPv4 : 127.0.0.0

Loopback for Ipv6 : :: 1

TYPES OF COMMUNICATION AND ADDRESS

• Unicast          :    One – to – One
• Multicast        :    One – to – Many
• Anycast         :    One – to – Closest

• Link-local Scope address  :   Layer 2 Domain
• Global Scope address      :   Internet

Link-Local address

• Assigned automatically as an IPv6 Host comes online
• Always begins with “FE80” (First 10 Bits : 1111 1110 10) Followed by 54 bits of zeros
• Similar to the 169.254.X.X address of IPv4
• Last 64 Bits is the 48-Bit Mac address with “FFFE”Squeezed in the middleEx :FE80::C200:12FF:FED0:0

FF02 ::1        :       Broadcast

FF02 ::2        :       Multicast

FF02 ::1        :       FFO:2  { Node Address, Replacement for ARP }

FF02 ::1        :       FFE8:0 { Node Address, Replacement for ARP }

Global Address

• Global Routing prefix is 64 bits or less
• The primary address expected to comprise the IPv6 interface are from the 2001::/16 Subnet
• Subnet ID is comprised of whatever Bits are left over after Global Routing Prefix

Ex : 2001:11AA::/64

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Command Prompt errors & solution in Networking

05 December, 2011

Common run Command Errors

A]    ipconfig — Media disconnected

Issue

1. Cable not connected
2. The device on the other side is turned off

Solution

1. Check with different cables
2. Turn on the other devices

B]    Ipconfig — Windows IP configuration

Issue

1. N/w card is disabled

Solution

• Enable n/w card

C]    Ping — destination host unreachable

Issue:

1. The device you are trying to ping is turned off

• The device you are trying to ping is not a part of the network

Solution

1. Check the IP address
2. Disable firewall on both ends
3. Disable and Enable the N/w card

D]    Ping–Request timed out

Issue:

1. Destination devices has received the packets but not responding to it

Solution

1. Disable firewall
2. Disable/Enable network card

E]    Ping — error code 64 or ping transmit error

Issue

1. Because of firewalls specially zone alarm

Solution

1. Disable firewall and zone alarm

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How to Clean Install via Recovery Interface

04 December, 2011

 Windows 7 provides a directed clean installation interface, which walks you through the steps to reinstall Windows 7. On a PC which was purchased with Windows 7 preinstalled (OEM), you may also find options here to restore to the original configuration of the PC – an OEM version of a clean install.

To access the interface, go to Control Panel, Recovery. The clean install option is shown in theAdvanced Recovery interface as Reinstall Windows.

Re install Windows:

When you click Reinstall Windows in the Advanced Recovery Methods interface, the first step is a check for Windows installation files.

If you click No here, the reinstall cannot proceed. Note that this step also guides you to use the OEM recovery disc instructions; if that is the Windows media you have available. This Recovery path is not intended to start the OEM restore procedure.

Backup:

After you click Yes in the Windows installation disc prompt, you are taken to the User File Backupstep, shown below. This gives you a chance to make a backup of your files before this reinstall of Windows.

Clicking Back up now opens the Set up backup interface as shown below. This is the same interface as you see when you start the backup from Backup and Restore.

Once difference you will find in the backup steps is that you are not given a chance to include a system image in the backup. This is because it is assumed that the current Windows state should not be restored.

Restore:

When you have completed your backup, or if you chose Skip at the previous restore step, you are taken to the Restart prompt. Clicking Restart here initiates a reboot into WinRE.

Recover WinRE:

When WinRE starts, you will see an initial input method/language prompt. This is the same prompt shown when using Startup Repair.

Next is a confirmation step asking “Are you sure you want to reinstall Windows?”. This reiterates the consequences of the reinstall – the current installation will be moved to Windows.old, and you will need to reinstall your programs.

If the Windows installation disc is in the drive, setup proceeds. If the media is not found, you will see the prompt to insert media, as shown below.

There are no further prompts until the Windows Welcome steps. There is no need to accept the license terms, or make other install selections in this procedure. The reinstall process leaves the current file system intact and performs a clean install to the current Windows partition, leaving a Windows.old folder with the previous installation.

Completing Reinstallation:

The first Windows Welcome step is shown below. This is the next input step for this process.

Once you have completed setup, the first time you log on to Windows, you will see a prompt to restore files from backup. This is shown below.

Clicking Restore my files opens the restore interface, where you can select a backup form which to restore files.

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Problem Step Recorder in Windows 7

03 December, 2011

One of tools in Windows 7 is the Problem Steps Recorder (PSR). If you are having a problem with a program or your computer, you can use the PSR to recreate and record the steps you took and the errors/problems encountered. The PSR saves screenshots of each step, saves them in a zip File,
which you in turn send to someone to help you fix the problem. Or, it can be used to show steps you are taking to use a program or application so the developer can see if you did it right.

Here is how to use it: 

Start--->Run , type psr.exe

It looks like this:

Now, it gets real simple! Just click Start Record, 

Recreate your problem or show steps you are taking, etc., and when you are done click Stop Record. You can even add comments to your file. By default, it saves it to your desktop so you can find the zip file easily and you can name it something identifiable.


Once the session has been saved you can open the.ZIP file created by PSR to view the recorded session. The .ZIP file contains a .MHT file which contains an image for each mouse click by the customer highlighted in green.

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